Chapter 622

The Clippers' season opener opponent is the Los Angeles Lakers.

It is Kuaisuan's home court.

However, the difference is not big.

The Lakers are currently undergoing a roster overhaul, with Kobe Bryant battling every night alongside different young players, while their head coach keeps switching back and forth; their internal problems are quite chaotic, and although Jean Bas previously relinquished management authority, she has recently started causing trouble again.

Including their management, they have again started hoping for Jean Bas to return, after all Jimbas is just lucky, and Jean Bas's ability is stronger than Jim's.

Moreover, Jimbas practices a laissez-faire approach.

This management approach has kept the Lakers on the defensive, continuously losing ground in the Los Angeles market; even though Fan Xi moved to the East Coast last season to join the New York Knicks, the Lakers still failed to win back the market.

Now Kuaisuan is more like the legitimate team of Los Angeles.

In the new season's first home game, Fan Xi was welcomed by the crowd, with MVP cheers rising and falling. His entrance ceremony was also very grand, with the introductory descriptors stretching on… the youngest Finals MVP in history, the highest single-game scorer in history, the only player ever to record a quintuple-double in a single game, the only four-time consecutive Finals MVP…… Jieke Fan!

Among these titles, even excluding honors that many players never achieve in a lifetime… such as regular-season MVP.

Kobe Bryant stood on the sidelines, unable to help but marvel, Jieke Fan's résumé is too perfect. He is indeed someone who can stand toe-to-toe with Jordan, even putting Jordan's position in jeopardy.

Looking at the entire league history, Fan Xi's first four seasons were unstoppable!

Jordan's only advantage over Fan Xi now is being in the United States, because he is Black. The only other area where he still has an edge is because his career is longer, making his résumé richer.

But in other regions worldwide, especially Asia.

Fan Xi's status has already completely surpassed, or even slightly surpassed.

Even in the United States, no one dares to deny that Fan Xi's first four seasons were greater than Jordan's.

This is Fan Xi's first game of his fifth season.

Fan Xi appears at shooting guard, Leonard at small forward, Huaiti Seda at power forward, Mili Xiqi at center, and Rubio at point guard.

In this season's playbook, Fan Xi will appear more often at the 2 position.

Fan Xi and Kobe Bryant will match up directly.

On the first play, Fan Xi used a back-down move to smoothly shake off Kobe Bryant and hit a fadeaway jumper.

Kobe Bryant was very surprised.

He didn't expect Fan Xi's back-down skills to be so refined, and even less expected that Fan Xi's movements would look even more elegant than his own.

Afterwards, Kobe Bryant also challenged Fan Xi one-on-one, but he missed.

He was still searching for his touch.

Kobe Bryant's past offseason was the most relaxed of his entire career, with his training volume greatly reduced, partly because of his age to reduce training wear and tear. Moreover, after having a son, his mindset indeed changed somewhat; he is no longer as… competitive.

He has already won six championships, and given his age, he will continue to be the Lakers' guardian deity, but he clearly knows the Lakers have no championship window in the past two or three seasons.

The game continued.

Fan Xi initiated a one-on-one, with Leonard providing help from the side; at this moment Fan Xi drove deep, and when the Lakers' defense collapsed, he easily passed the ball to Leonard.

Leonard leapt up and slammed the ball through the hoop with one hand.

Triangle offense?

Fan Xi's chemistry with Leonard this time resembles that of Jordan and Pippen back in the day.

"This might be the closest perimeter combination to the Jordan-Pippen feel in NBA history," Charles Barkley said on TV.

TNT selected this game as the opening night broadcast.

Beside him, Kenny Smith stared and said: "Closest? What kind of word is that? Do you think Jordan is better than Jie Ke, and Pippen better than Leonard?"

Huh?

Barkley was dumbfounded by Smith's question; in his basketball mindset, this is beyond doubt.

But when he tried to rebut, he found that what Kenny Smith said also had some merit.

The game continued.

Kobe Bryant hit a jumper after a screen.

But shortly after, Leonard posted up for isolation, while Fan Xi caught the ball on the move beyond the three-point line and hit a three-pointer.

The Lakers could not break down the offensive connection established by Leonard and Fan Xi, a fact evident from the start of the game.

After the Lakers' roster overhaul, they could only pin all their hopes on Kobe Bryant.

The Lakers had no advantage at any position, and Kuaisuan's lineup continued the terrifying defensive intensity from last season.

But Kobe Bryant now can no longer match up against Fan Xi.

His experience remains ample, his offensive firepower still fierce. However, increasing age and declining physicality prevent him from punishing opponents as freely as he did in his youth.

Time has become Kobe Bryant's decelerator.

After the first quarter, Kuaisuan built a 13-point lead. The huge gap between the two teams is plainly visible.

In the second quarter, Kuaisuan changed to a new lineup.

Fan Xi remained at shooting guard, but the point guard became the small Isaiah Thomas, the power forward became Giannis, and the center became rookie Jokic.

Jokic was a bit nervous when he entered the game, and his first rebound was outright stolen by Kobe Bryant from behind.

He also still struggles to adapt to the NBA's physicality.

But he quickly demonstrated strong adaptability.

His pick-and-roll with the small Thomas is very smooth; Thomas, when lacking scoring opportunities, is instructed to directly pass the ball to Jokic for handling, and Jokic constantly delivers firepower from the high post, benefiting Fan Xi's jump shot, Giannis's drives, and Leonard's isolation plays.

Although during this period Kuaisuan's defensive efficiency has decreased somewhat.

But their offensive firepower has increased by more than a little.

"How do we counter this? What can the Lakers do to match up against Kuaisuan?" Kenny Smith wondered on TV.

This is a strong stimulus for Lakers fans, who also never imagined that just three years later the situation would undergo such a shocking transformation.

At this moment, Lakers fans are still wondering… how great it would have been if they hadn't traded Jieke Fan? The Lakers now…? Kobe Bryant's historical standing should have entered the league's top five, right? The Lakers' noble legacy should be even more unbreakable, to the point that even Boston wouldn't dare to come and try to steal glory, right?

Unfortunately, there are no ifs in the world.

One should be punished for doing wrong.

Jean Bas's stupidity caused the problems in this series.

Every time the Clippers and Lakers play, Jean Bas is dragged out by Lakers fans to be whipped; although she could make many reasonable excuses—like from that time, Chris Paul is a better player than Fan Xi from any angle, and moreover he was injured.

Trading an immature, injury‑prone point guard for the league's best point guard—what's the issue?

Indeed, there's no problem.

It's just that his conscience is a bit bad.

Fan Xi was injured while playing for the Lakers; he played with an injured leg and won a miraculous championship, completing a three‑peat.

But all he got was being traded.

A wind blew through Staples Center.

The first half ended.

The Clippers went into the locker room leading 71–50, up by 21.

This result is nothing new; no one finds it strange, and no one will exaggerate and shout that the slaughter has begun.

The Lakers have been slaughtered by the Clippers far too often.

The second half was a replay of the first; while the Clippers practiced tactics to improve cohesion, they ground the Lakers into the dirt.

In the fourth quarter, Fan Xi didn't even play.

But Leonard still led this elite squad to embarrass the Lakers.

This also shows that the Clippers' strength hasn't diminished—it has grown.

For DeAndre Jordan, this might seem cruel—he had warned that after he left the Clippers' paint would suffer and their chemistry would be hard to fix.

But now the Clippers are stronger.

Mili Xiqi and Jokic, this Serbian pair, held up the sky.

Huaiti Seda and Capela, this pair of elite blue‑collar power forwards, also firmly upheld interior defensive discipline.

The Clippers' defense hasn't declined, but their offense has surged.

146 points.

In their opening game of the 2014–15 season, the Clippers posted a score they hadn't dared dream of last season, when they averaged just 81.6 points—worst in the league, often sending fans to sleep.

With Fan Xi back, the offense went into overdrive.

Fan Xi hardly broke a sweat in this game and wasn't chasing points, yet he finished with 41 points, 9 assists, 11 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks.

A near triple‑double.

For Fan Xi, putting up those numbers is as easy as eating and drinking.

Leonard had 28 points, Antetokounmpo 21.

Their scoring hasn't fallen—it's risen.

Moreover, the standout was the eighth‑pick Jokic, who lived up to Fan Xi's expectations and again helped Fan Xi vindicate his draft judgment.

Jokic tallied a triple‑double of 10 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds, and 1 steal, breaking the NBA debut record as the first player ever to post a triple‑double in his debut.

Given this trend, he will undoubtedly be a top contender for Rookie of the Year.

After the game he candidly said, "I think the NBA is much easier than European leagues—there's plenty of space, my teammates can make my passes count, and I still get free shooting opportunities… it's wonderful."

"I like the NBA."

When Jokic said that, the reporters were stunned.

Fan Xi, sitting beside him, added, "He's right. The NBA suits him better; he'll become a great NBA center."

Fan Xi's words made perfect sense.

Moreover Fan Xi said, "I think Jokic will be this year's Rookie of the Year. The only real challenger, Wiggins, will initially struggle as he tries to find a balance with Irving."

"And Embiend? He had a super double‑double of 17 points and 15 rebounds in his debut." Another reporter brought up another standout center.

"I won't judge that. We'll see at season's end." Fan Xi gave a small smile.

Fan Xi seldom appears at post‑game press conferences, but he came mainly to help Jokic—only to discover that Jokic hardly needs his help; he speaks well and has a good personality.

"Next season I'll focus mainly on scoring; I'll split playmaking duties between Rubio and Jokic, both of whom can handle it."

Fan Xi then said.

Then a reporter asked, "Did you switch from point guard to shooting guard to measure up against Michael Jordan?"

Fan Xi raised his eyebrows, spread his hands, made a goofy face, and said, "Otherwise, who would I do it for?"

"Of course, that was a joke. The main point is that with our current roster I'm better suited to be a scorer." Fan Xi then gave another answer.

But clearly the media will run with the earlier quote.

The media's favorite topic is the showdown between Fan Xi and Jordan.

…

After the Clippers beat the Lakers 146–101, the debate over who is LA's strongest team was settled once and for all—at least for the next decade, the Lakers' hopes of a comeback are slim.

And the impressive two‑way performance shown in this game also made the league aware of the power of a top championship seed.

The news of Fan Xi's switch to shooting guard went viral; everyone knows his ambition. If he wins Finals MVP again as a shooting guard—making it his fifth—then… Jordan will have to relinquish the throne.

Moreover, Fan Xi's draft eye is also widely praised. Many say the Clippers rely on Fan Xi to sign a few rookie contracts to compete, spending little while earning a lot.

The Clippers' Ku Pu Qie Ke also spoke up: "Our goal this year is to become the league's most profitable team. If we can't achieve that, we hope to reach ninety percent of the Knicks' level."

The Knicks are great at making money; even if Fan Xi leaves, they still enjoy the championship's lingering profits.

In their opener, their tickets still sell like hotcakes.

But the game itself is a mess.

Their opener's opponent is the Miami Heat.

The Heat can't beat a Knicks team that has Fan Xi, but against a Knicks without Fan Xi they still have it easy. James racks up drives, Wade nails tough jumpers, plus their new acquisition Hibbert, who dominates the paint.

The Heat managed to acquire Hibbert, which Fan Xi didn't anticipate.

Hibbert is the Pacers' starting center, and his defensive ability is quite strong.

Moreover, he is young and in his prime.

But Pat Riley somehow managed to coax Hibbert from Larry Bird without spending anything.

You should know that over the past few seasons, the Pacers have been at the forefront of resisting the Heat.

After acquiring Hibbert, the Heat's strength is considered to have increased greatly.

They also demonstrated this in actual play.

Tyson Chandler and Kevin Garnett still had some interior advantage last season, but this season they were just being toyed with.

However, they don't care anymore.

They have already won the championship, and this summer they have non-stop commercial activities in New York; what's there to fight for?

The New York Knicks owner also just wants to win the championship; as long as he gets it, that's enough.

Now, he devotes all his energy to erecting a bronze statue for Fan Xi.

He also revealed that in two years he will spare no effort to pursue Jieke Fan.

So, whether they make the playoffs these two seasons doesn't matter. Especially next season, the Knicks are prepared to tank completely.

Because the worst record gives the highest chance to get Fan Xi.

Those who share this view are not only the Knicks owner James Dolan, but also owners of other teams.

Now the Eastern Conference is clearly divided between strong and weak; strong teams vie for the championship, while weak teams just wait for the Fan Xi draft lottery.

…

After scoring 45 points to defeat the Lakers, the Kuaisuan continued to create havoc in California. The Sacramento Kings were defeated by the Clippers 142:102.

The Kings hardly had any power to fight back; they were even worse than the Lakers.

Especially their center Cousins, constantly being pulled out to the perimeter and punished by Jokic, he felt terrible. Moreover, he couldn't even move this little fatty in the paint, so he had to try jump shots…

In this game, Jokic continued to get a triple-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, very balanced and economical, reminiscent of Jason Kidd back then.

And Leonard continued to score 28 points, while Antetokounmpo had 21 points.

Fan Xi's stat line was 42 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocks.

Fan Xi is becoming more stable and efficient at shooting guard; he hardly has explosive scoring, he just quietly gets double digits each quarter, and in the end you see around forty points.

The Clippers' team chemistry is better than ever; after enlarging the pie, everyone is happy. No one's stats have declined compared to last season.

At this time, they arrived in Oakland, they are visiting Golden State, and they will face the Golden State Warriors that commentators have high hopes for.

The Warriors' team this season is more cohesive and more crazy.

Their roster is basically set.

Many commentators believe they have a chance to pull off a dark-horse style upset this season.

Steve Kerr is also very confident.

Before the game, Fan Xi chatted with him for a couple of sentences; Kerr said: 'I think your status might surpass Jordan, but you can't take down the Warriors. Your legend will end because of us.'

Fan Xi smiled and patted Kerr's shoulder, saying: 'I admire your confidence.'

Then both of them returned to the bench and were motivating the players.

The game started.

The Warriors' starting lineup is: Curry, Thompson, Barnes, Green, Bogut.

The Clippers' starting lineup is: Rubio, Fan Xi, Leonard, Huaiti Seda, Mili Xiqi.

Bogut won the jump ball against Mili Xiqi, and he shoved Mili Xiqi in the air.

Then, after halftime, when Bogut set a screen for Curry, he used a moving screen… his steps obviously moved.

But the main referee didn't blow the whistle.

Curry got a sliver of space and completed the shot, hitting a three-pointer.

They gave the Clippers a wake-up call at the Jiaoguwen Qiuquan arena.

The whole arena erupted.

Oakland fans also greatly enjoyed the media hype, believing they would become Fan Xi's terminator.

This talk started spreading after the World Cup ended.

But clearly they were the losing side at that time.

"Score this ball!"

Leonard encouraged his teammates on the way back to halftime.

Fan Xi was very pleased with Leonard making such a sound, indicating that he is essentially different from Pippen, and Leonard began to show leadership qualities.

So, after halftime, Fan Xi had Rubio pass the ball to Leonard.

Leonard spread out, he isolated Barnes.

…